New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4308, 11 January 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1875.

We really do not know how to approach the frightful catastrophe, reported in our telegrams to-day, namely, the destruction by fire , off, the Capo of Good Hope of the ship Cospatriok, bound for Auckland, with emigrants from London. There were 400 emigrants on board ; and from the class of the ship, wo should say that the crow mustered at least forty. The total number on board 1 would therefore be about 500. Of these wo only know of three being saved ;—the (list mate and two of the crow, who were rescued, after suffering privations to which death itself would have been preferable. The survivors subsisted on the dead bodies of their comrades, of whom there wore twenty-seven in the boat. The men do not appear to have had any food or water with them : they flung themselves into the boat, and trusted to the mercy of the waves. Except the three survivors, tho boat’s crew of thirty died raving mad. More fortunate for those who died, wo should say, than for tho three men who prolonged life for ton miserable days, by preying on the corpses that lay around them.. i Two boats left the ship, one in charge; of tho chief officer, with thirty men oh board ; this boat has been heard of, and

its miserable remnant, as we have stated, have been saved. The other boat, containing.an equal number: of persons, in charge' of the second mate, has not been heard of. Let us hope a better fate for them ; —either complete oblivion, or anescape from sufferings which are intolerable to civilised men. The sea appears to have boon tranquil, or the boats could .no. have been freighted with so many persons but tho fire made such rapid progress that within an hour after its discovery the ship was completely gutted. What was the cargo ? That is a point which should be rigidly inquired into. We have looked over the cargo list, but no combustible material is disclosed. It is beyond question, however, that some combustibles were on board as cargo. Should it turn out that through the neglect or connivance of the Home agency, combustible material was shipped in , the Oospatrick, as ordinary cargo, the country will require at least tho dismissal of every one directly or. indirectly concerned in tho affair. Emigrant ships, sailing under the inspection of the Emigration Commissioners to Australia, are not supposed to carry combustibles as cargo, and we do not see wiry life should be less sacred when coming to New Zealand. The public will insist upon a rigid inquiry into this melancholy tragedy, which must seriously interfere, as a deterrent, with emigration to this colony. In the whole range of disasters by sea, we know of none so horrible in its surroundings as the burning of the Oospatrick emigrant ship, on the 39th of November last. The captain and doctor appear to have behaved with coolness and courage. This is a most unhappy affair, and it is one which the Commissioner for Immigration, Major Atkinson, should probe to the bottom forthwith. Let us know what cargo was on board the Cospairick’, and should it turn out, as we anticipate, to be the case; his duty is to make an example of every one who is at all culpable. We refrain from further comment at present, but we shall return to the subject again. It is much too serious to be slurred over, as the culpable negligence of the Home agency, in the matter of transmitting disease, has so frequently been. When the victims are counted by tens, the public are unappalled ; but when five hundred human beings are sacrificed as a burnt offering on the high seas, public attention must be arrested. Doubtless there were scores of nominated emigrants on board, and the settlers of Auckland will have to mourn tho loss of many dear friends.